Ferrari F8 Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2015 Ferrari FF.

Ford has announced it is returning to the Le Mans 24 Hour race in 2016, exactly 50 years after its maiden victory at the famous French circuit.Bill Ford, the great-grandson of the company’s founder Henry Ford, jetted to Le Mans for the historic announcement on the eve of this year’s race which starts Saturday afternoon local time.But there is just one catch. Although Ford will return with a modern version of the GT supercar that defeated Ferrari with a 1-2-3 finish on home turf in 1966 (and went on to win the following three years in a row), it is not competing for outright honours next year.The front-runners in the modern Le Mans era are mega-dollar teams with budgets bigger than Formula One.Ford says it is making the historic return because motorsport is still important to the brand’s image.At this weekend’s race, Audi is aiming for its 14th win since 1999 (all of them with hi-tech diesel power since 2006) and the sixth year in a row, while Toyota and Porsche are racing hybrid supercars. Nissan, in an unusual move, is experimenting with a front-wheel-drive car (as in, all the power of the engine drives the front wheels, just like a Nissan Pulsar; the exact opposite of the world’s fastest race cars which send power to the rear wheels or, in the case of Le Mans, all four).Instead, Ford will race in the Le Mans 24 Hour category for modified road cars, in which Porsche 911s and Corvettes compete.But Ford says it is making the historic return because motorsport is still important to the brand’s image.“When the GT40 competed at Le Mans in the 1960s, Henry Ford II sought to prove Ford could beat endurance racing’s most legendary manufacturers,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “We are still extremely proud of having won this iconic race four times in a row, and that same spirit that drove the innovation behind the first Ford GT still drives us today.”Ford plans to introduce 12 new performance vehicles between now and 2020.Although the road-going version of the Ford GT was designed by an Australian, the car will not be sold locally as it is not being built in right-hand-drive.The road-going version of the new Ford GT is not due on sale until next year but the company has revealed it has more computer power than a fighter jet.Instead, once the locally-made supercharged Ford Falcon XR8 goes out of production in October 2016, local Ford performance fans will have only the Mustang to choose from if they want a V8 with a Ford badge.

It is the biggest motor show on the planet, in every sense of the word.The site map for the Shanghai motor show looks straightforward enough. With its simple clover-leaf design, at first it appears there are four halls to cover.Then you discover the floorspace of each hall is the size of the MCG – and split in two sections under one enormous roof. So, eight enormous halls then.But if you fold out the map – as I did, on day two – you then learn there are two levels to every hall.So instead of covering two of eight halls on day one, it turns out I only made it to two out of gigantic 16 halls. Needless to say, the joint is huge.China overtook the US car market in 2009 and hasn't missed a gear since.So many Chinese can now afford a car that it has caused instant gridlockMore than 24.8 million new vehicles were delivered in China last year (compared to 1.1 million in Australia and 16.5 million in the US) and sales are still powering, up by more than 13 per cent in 2015.The country with 1.35 billion people is rapidly developing a middle class, and they want to switch from two wheels to four.So many Chinese can now afford a car that it has caused instant gridlock; the government often alternates days which allow cars with odd or even licence plates on the road.In Shanghai, a city of more than 23 million people, equivalent to the entire population of Australia, the traffic is so bad that the best way to get to the motor show is by train.We found this out the hard way, having taken more than two hours to travel by bus from the downtown hotel to the motor show site on day one; the train ride the next day took 20 minutes. So much for celebrating the car.But even the Shanghai train system, although infinitely more efficient than Australia's network, is suffering from growing pains.The local transport website helpfully points out that an English translation version of the train map is not available as a PDF because the city is adding so many new lines that it doesn't fit on an A4 sheet of paper.China is a place with big ambitions. While the Chinese auto industry is booming, that is largely because each of the top-selling brands have their hands held by a foreign car company.If you want to build and sell cars in China, the government mandates you must partner with a local manufacturer – and split the profit down the middle.You name the brand, and they're either already in China, or about to set up shopIt's one of the reasons China's middle class economy is growing so fast, the government ensures the wealth is distributed far and wide.When a foreign auto company turns up to start building cars, they are told which provinces they will set up their factories in, and which company will partner them.That's why you see some unusual acronyms after household names such as General Motors, Volkswagen, Toyota, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW.The list goes on. You name the brand, and they're either already in China, or about to set up shop.Meanwhile, demand for imported luxury cars is so strong that brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche and Rolls-Royce now list China as their biggest market.At a previous motor show, Rolls-Royce had to install a credit card machine because so many cashed-up Chinese buyers wanted to drive home in the display cars on the spot.Just as Chinese have had to adjust to understanding the difference between a motor show and a dealership (Rolls-Royce took their deposits but delivered the cars later), the global industry has had to change its approach to such an important market and has developed models exclusively for sale in China.At the other end of the scale, dozens of China-only car brands are trying to leave their mark on the local market and, eventually, the world.Many of these brands are the ones responsible for the copycat cars that have been the butt of jokes in recent years.There was the fake Mini, the sincere form a flattery to the Range Rover Evoque, the BMW X5 nose that appeared to be grafted onto what was apparently a tribute to the Toyota Prado.However, apart from a handful of cars (one that had a Ferrari nose and a Porsche Cayman rear end, and another that looked like a Volkswagen Touareg SUV, except it wasn't) this year's show stood out for its lack of counterfeit cars.Indeed, the domestic Chinese car makers are showing signs of maturing.Would I rush out and buy a Chinese car? Not yetThe similarities in foreign design are still there, but they are much more muted and on their way – hopefully – to their own look.The smart brands are hiring foreign design talent (there appears to have been a raid on Audi, BMW and VW designers recently) to help nurture the extremely creative Chinese designers coming up through the system.But would I rush out and buy a Chinese car? Not yet. Probably not for several years. Maybe even a decade.It should be pointed out that, just as with big foreign brands, not all Chinese cars are created equally. Some are most certainly better than others.The Chinese automotive industry absolutely knows how to manufacture every single part that goes into making a carThat said, even the big improvers of the Chinese domestic brands are still a long way from challenging the German, Japanese, North American and South Korean brands on quality, safety, refinement and efficiency.The Chinese automotive industry absolutely knows how to manufacture every single part that goes into making a car – and give it the appearance of quality.But the world's biggest car market is still yet to hone the skills to design and engineer vehicles from the ground up to truly international standards.In the meantime, foreign design and engineering talent will be able to enjoy the China boom.Indeed, even Australia is getting a slice of the action.The new China-only Ford Taurus unveiled this week was created from the ground up in Australia.Ford employs 1500 designers, engineers and mechanics (twice as many employed on the production line that will fall silent next year) at Broadmeadows to develop cars for Ford of China.The only difference is the factory is 8000km away, rather than next door.

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Ferrari FF with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Actually, it's probably more than that figure as no one at Ferrari will give exact numbers for the queue to drive the red-hot successor to the 458 Italia. Or the price."The waiting list is probably around a year-and-a-half. And those orders came within the first two weeks of the photographs of the car being released," says Ferrari Australia boss Herbert Appleroth."We're not expecting deliveries to commence until right at the end of the year. So we're talking into 2017."We have not seen this level of interest since 2007The success of the F488 is good news for Ferrari and its fans as well as a pointer to the health of Australia's economy.Top-end brands all report big buyer interest and there are waiting lists for popular models from the likes of Lamborghini, Porsche and Mercedes-AMG."We have not seen this level of interest since 2007, before the global financial crisis," says Appleroth. "We can safely assume the supercar market is back to its previous glory. Well, it is for Ferrari." The financial upswing has also triggered a change in colour choices. Rosso Corsa, or Ferrari red, is back on top with a clear preference for the 488 among buyers."In Australia, red was less important from 2008 until now. That's because people wanted to play conservative. After the GFC they still wanted to live their dream, but not flaunt it.The 458 is $525,000, with most owners splashing at least another $100,000 on bling"But there is very strong demand for red again. This could be our clients being more confident things are going well."They will definitely be doing well to afford a 488. The 458 is $525,000, with most owners splashing at least another $100,000 on bling, and that will increase with the new model."Globally, the price of the car is 2.5 per cent more than the 458 Italia," says Appleroth. So the bottom line is going to rise by more than $13,000, without thinking about options and on-road costs.

Albert Park hosts motoring's finest this weekend - and there will be an F1 race, too.

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the 2015 Ferrari California T, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

It was here Jaguar unveiled its legendary E-Type in the early '60s and the top end of town has revelled in revealing outrageous — and outrageously priced — supercars since then.Apart from the mainstream luxury brands, there is a host of boutique car builders who like to rub shoulders with, and occasionally outdo, the elite.Only 24 Vulcans will be made and, as the saying goes, if you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford it. You will need especially deep pockets given this is a race car, and spare parts won't exactly be "off the shelf". The entire body and chassis are handmade from lightweight carbon-fibre. And the U-shaped steering wheel looks like something from a fighter plane. The Vulcan is Aston Martin's latest track weapon, said to have a handy 600kW from its 7.0-litre V12. This is Aston's answer to a one-make racing series for the super-rich.The EXP-10 Speed 6 is a new two-seater sports car concept from the German-owned British brand. It will sell alongside the Bentley coupe and sedan that are already on sale and the SUV that is a few years away from showrooms. It signals a new, sportier design language aimed at younger buyers who may shun the brand as being a bit stuffy. In the same vein as Mini, Bentley's designers have been locked in to variations on a distinct theme for years. Now they've cut loose. The brand hasn't nominated what kind of engine will power the car.The 488 GTB is the first turbocharged mid-engined Ferrari since the epic F40 supercar (built from 1987-92 and producing 351kW/577Nm)) and is only the second turbo V8 in the company's modern era after last year's California T. As with almost every brand, Ferrari is moving to turbocharging because it can extract more power from smaller engines that burn less fuel. A sign of the times, the 488 GTB (reviving the 40-year-old badge from the 308 GTB) easily eclipses the F40's output with an impressive 492kW/760Nm pushing it from rest to 100km/h in 3.0 seconds.British F1 firm McLaren joins the long list of supercar a 750kW twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8. The show car is finished in the same colour scheme as McLaren's LeMans winner from 20 years ago. McLaren's one-make racing series for the well-heeled kicks off later this year.Lamborghini has extracted extra kilowatts and trimmed 50kg from the regular V12 Aventador to produce its limited edition lightweight model. The LP 750-4 Superveloce has 750hp (560kW), can reach the speed limit in just 2.8secs and will likely cost more than $800,000 when it arrives in Australia late this year. Lamborghini, unlike Ferrari, has no immediate plans to adopt turbo engines.Switzerland has the highest per capita Porsche ownership in the world, so it's only fitting the brand should release two new sports cars at the show. The Cayman GTS 4 is a manual-only, track-focused baby 911 that will sell in Australia for $190,300. It is powered by a 283kW flat-six engine capable of launching it to 100km/h in 4.4 seconds.The 911 GT3 RS ups the ante to 368kW for a 0-100km/h time of 3.3 seconds.This wild, track-ready supercar has no connection to cricket's hallowed turf. SCG in this case is short for Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, a company founded by a former Hollywood film director and avid collector of Italian supercars. Glickenhaus, who worked on Wall St for a while, lives in New York but spends most of his time building road-registrable track cars in Turin, Italy. The all carbon-fibre supercar weighs only 1350kg and is powered by a Honda 3.5 litre V6. Glickenhaus says it can lap Germany's famed Nurburgring in 6 minutes 40 secs "for 24 hours straight". And it can be custom-built and delivered to your doorstep for about €2.3 million.The Danish supercar maker shot to fame after being monstered by Top Gear. Clarkson and co gave the maker a hard time after one of its cars broke down, caught fire and then clocked a lap time slower than a BMW M5. The maker cried foul, saying the time had been set in wet weather.Undeterred by the negative publicity, the maker has shown its mid-engined two-seater, powered by a 6.8-litre V8 that puts out 810kW and is capable of 0-100km/h in 2.6s.Spano, a low-volume supercar builder, started in Valencia 10 years ago. The latest incarnation has a twin-turbo 8.0-litre V10 (690kW/1220Nm) and the maker claims it will reach 100km/h in 2.9s on the way to 370km/h. The monocoque chassis is made from carbon-fibre, titanium and graphene — said to be the thinnest, lightest and strongest compound known to man. Just 99 will be built.

An eccentric Swiss company has created a car with a periscope-style camera to scan the road ahead and a steering wheel that can be stowed – so you can browse the web on the way to work.The Rinspeed Budii (pronounced "buddy") is the star concept car at this week's Geneva motor show, due to open Wednesday March 4, Australian time.The Swiss firm based its latest flight of fancy on the BMW i3 electric car, which has been pulled apart and rebuilt so it is unrecognisable – and loaded with advanced equipment from more than two-dozen technology suppliers.The periscope uses laser and camera technology to read traffic and detect obstacles, while the steering wheel can be used as a makeshift table to rest a lap-top while the car finds its way through traffic.The steering wheel can also be swivelled from the left to the right side of the cabin depending on where the vehicle is sold – or can be slid across at a moment's notice if the driver is too tired.A dedicated app for smart phones (and smart watches) enables owners to set the air-conditioning temperature of the car minutes before they are due to start driving, and activate the electric car's recharging cycle.Although the Rinspeed Budii concept car is not equipped with autonomous driving technology, it does provide an insight into what the inside of self-driving cars could look like.There are large iPad screens in the sun visors, with road information for the driver, and a TV or DVD player for the passenger.The central cabin control screen is as large as a TV, and the display automatically reduces the amount of information shown based on what the driver uses most."The vision of autonomous driving will soon become reality and will fundamentally change the interaction of man and automobiles," says Rinspeed boss Frank Rinderknecht.The car industry is gradually increasing the level of automation in modern vehicles, starting with radar cruise control with "stop-start", which keeps a safe distance from the car ahead, automatically comes to a stop and restarts once the traffic is moving again – without the driver having to touch the brake or accelerator pedals. This technology is available in luxury cars today.The next step is "on-ramp to off-ramp" automation on freeways. Experts believe it will be 10 to 15 years before the technology is good enough to handle the complexity of city and suburban driving."The autonomously driving car will require more than solving technical problems and legal issues in the next two decades," said Mr Rinderknecht. "We not only have to redefine the interaction of man and machine, but must also raise questions about responsibility, tolerances and expectations."Police and insurance companies have already made it clear drivers will still be responsible for obeying the law while behind the wheel of autonomous cars, just as a pilot must stay alert and in control when a plane is on auto-pilot."Even the best technology will not be perfect, albeit less prone to error than humans. That is something we will have to accept," said Mr Rinderknecht. "In the future, cars will do just as we do: they will keep learning every day, and as a result will get better and better at mastering the complex challenges of modern-day private transport."Rinspeed has a long history of creating unusual concept cars. Last year it showed a Tesla electric car with the seats facing backwards – towards a large screen TV – to illustrate how quickly autonomous technology was developing.In 2013 Rinspeed showed a tiny city car in which drivers and passengers stood while strapped to a seat rest; the idea was to create a super-small vehicle that can carry five or more people in comfort.Although the latest Rinspeed concept car does debut a number of world firsts, it wasn't the first company in the world to dream of a bird's eye view of the traffic ahead. Last year Renault unveiled a concept car called the KWID which had a camera drone beam live images back to a screen in the dashboard.It is fitting that so many supercars and racing machines for the super-rich are due to bow at the 2015 Geneva motor show. You need a tax haven to be able to afford to buy – or bend – any one of these.Clearly a recession is around the corner. History shows when super cars become common as muck the global economy collapses, the car industry contracts, and we start all over again.In the meantime, here's a taste of how Europe's filthy rich are living it up as we race towards a fiscal cliff.We don't know what the name means either, but what we do know is that this is the new two-seater sports car concept from the German-owned British brand Bentley. The 'EXP-10 Speed 6', to give its full name, is a pointer to a new model to sell alongside the Bentley coupe and sedan that are already on sale and the SUV that is a few years away from showrooms. The press blurb waxes lyrical about the design and the "expression of muscular, athletic surfaces inspired by the aerodynamic shapes of aircraft fuselages and wings". But nowhere does Bentley mention what type of engine it has. Perhaps 'six' is a clue.For some people, even Lamborghini supercars aren't fast enough. That's why cars like this are born. Lamborghini has extracted 50 extra horsepower and trimmed 50kg of bodyweight from the regular V12 Aventador to produce this limited edition lightweight model. It's called (deep breath) the Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce. All you really need to know is that with 750 horsepower (or 560kW in modern parlance) it can reach the speed limit in just 2.8 seconds and will likely cost more than $800,000 when it goes on sale in Australia late this year.Only 24 of these will be made and, as the saying goes, if you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford it. You will need especially deep pockets given this is a race car, and spare parts won't exactly be "off the shelf". The entire body and chassis are handmade from lightweight carbon-fibre. And the U-shaped steering wheel looks like something from a fighter plane. The Aston Martin Vulcan is the company's latest track weapon, said to have a handy 800 horsepower from its 7.0-litre V12. This is Aston Martin's answer to a one-make racing series for the super-rich.Aston Martin's first sedan since 1976 was released as a limited edition for the Middle East in 2014; now the company has extended production of the aptly-named Taraf to other global markets – in both left- and right-hand-drive – but will cap the number built to 200. Price "remains confidential" but the British press report it will cost £400,000 (approximately $800,000 in Australian dollars, but closer to $1 million by the time Luxury Car Tax and GST are added). Each car will be powered by Aston Martin's 6.0-litre V12 as the engine deal with Mercedes-AMG is yet to start.Do not adjust your eyes: this is the new, second-generation Audi R8. You can tell because it has vertical slats in the lower section of the front bumper, a bigger bulge in the side vents, and squinty headlights. Despite the visual similarities with the original, every panel is new. And the 5.2-litre V10 has been given a tune-up: 449kW in its most powerful guise. On sale here early next year from an estimated $400,000.After 10 years and 450 sales (at €1 million plus taxes apiece) the last ever Bugatti Veyron will bow at the 2015 Geneva motor show. In the end, the world's fastest car had an epic 895kW of power and a mind-boggling 1500Nm of torque from its quad turbo W16 (yes, two V8s mounted back-to-back). Top speed: an average of 431km/h over 1km and a 0 to 100km/h time of 2.5 seconds, which is faster than a Formula One car. The good news: Bugatti is developing a successor.The 488 GTB is the first turbocharged mid-engined Ferrari since the epic F40 supercar made from 1987 to 1992, and is only the second turbo V8 in the company's modern era after last year's California T. As with almost every brand, Ferrari is moving to turbocharging because it can extract more power from smaller engines that burn less fuel. A sign of the times, the 488 GTB (reviving the 40-year-old badge from the 308 GTB) easily eclipses the F40's output (351kW/577Nm) with an impressive 492kW of power and 760Nm of torque to create a 0 to 100km/h time of 3.0 seconds.This may look like another bad-ass Mercedes AMG GT but the bigger news is under the bonnet. It's the last hurrah for the high-powered and highly-strung 6.3-litre V8 that has been at the heart of almost every Mercedes-Benz AMG V8 model for the past decade. And it's going out on a high as the engine to be used in Mercedes' GT3 racer next year.British F1 firm McLaren has joined the long list of supercar makers with a new racing program: the P1 GTR is powered by a 1000 horsepower twin-turbo 3.8-litre V8. The show car is finished in the same colour scheme as McLaren's LeMans winner from 20 years ago. McLaren's one-make racing series for the well-heeled kicks off later this year.German sports car maker Porsche has finally done what diehard fans have demanded for more than 10 years. It has fitted the bigger and more powerful 3.8-litre six-cylinder engine from its 911 flagship into the smaller, more affordable and mid-engined Cayman. The result is a car that promises to out-pace and out-manouvre the iconic 911, which is precisely the reason Porsche was so reluctant to build it in the first place. In local showrooms by the end of the year with a price we're guessing will top $200,000.Meet Mercedes-Benz's monster truck, and one of the most expensive four-wheel-drives in the world. The G500 is based on the legendary Mercedes G-Class body (originally developed for military use but has since been made for civilians) and uses AMG's new twin turbo 4.0-litre V8. But the big news is the desert-racer suspension and the massive 22-inch wheels and tyres – and a price tag likely to cost in excess of $500,000. Fortunately it rides so high there isn't much chance you'll scratch it.Not every car at the Geneva motor show is expensive, inaccessible and unlikely to ever hit the road. But nor is every new car actually a car. Between the regular passenger vehicles is an increasing array of small SUVs.The world's biggest selling car (and the top-seller in Australia for the past two years in a row) is due for a facelift mid-year. New headlights combine with a futuristic-looking grille and sleek front bumper to give it a freshen-up. It's also tipped to get a rear-view camera as standard on every model (bringing it up to speed with the Corolla sedan and the Yaris hatch). The photo is of a hybrid version sold in Europe but Toyota Australia still has no plans to introduce the petrol-electric Corolla.This car should erase any doubts about Hyundai's continued climb up the sales charts. The new Hyundai Tucson (the first European reveal for an all-new Hyundai) is due in Australia in August. Underneath its miniature Hyundai SantaFe looks is a choice of 2.0-litre petrol, 2.0-litre turbo diesel and 1.6-litre turbo petrol power.The initials "GT" are usually associated with iconic Falcon V8 sedans or Ford's US-made Ferrari-fighting sports car, but BMW has decided to add the badge to its first people mover. The 2 Series "Grand Tourer" is the seven-seat version of its 2 Series front-wheel-drive hatch. Note the longer body, taller roof and the bigger boot to fit the third-row seats. On sale later this year.With its bright red paintwork, dark grey alloy wheels and sleek lines you could be forgiven for thinking this could pass for Ferrari's first ever wagon. In fact, it's a Kia. This concept is a pointer to the new generation Optima sedan, which will also be available as a wagon for the first time. Due on sale in Australia late this year.This cool-looking concept comes from Mitsubishi, which has a habit of making its production cars look nowhere near as exciting as the motor show tease. Here's hoping we're wrong. This is the preview to the all-new ASX compact SUV due in showrooms next year. The concept has plug-in hybrid technology but we're not certain that'll make the production version. Petrol and diesel engines will likely be standard fare.Nissan's luxury brand Infiniti (which doesn't know how to spell "infinity") is about to join the baby SUV boom with the oddly-named QX30. Car makers are switching to letters and numbers because apparently we're running out of car names that don't offend someone somewhere in various languages. Expect a showroom version of this to appear next year.It's difficult to know whether this is a tall hatchback or a squashed SUV. The Lexus LF-SA (be careful how you say that) concept is said to be a pointer to the brand's first pint-sized SUV for the city. As is the case with previous Lexus concepts, the showroom version won't look anything like this unfortunately. Imagine this car with normal doors, much smaller wheels and tyres, regular headlights, and then squint a bit, and you have an idea how the real thing will look when it arrives next year.This is a concept intended to warm us to the look of the new generation Audi A4 and A6 wagons due in the next two years. The concept also previews "production ready" plug-in hybrid technology, joining the long list of European brands embracing electrical cords to reduce the emissions ratings for their petrol-powered cars.We're not sure if this looks like a Kia, or if the latest Kia cars look like Citroens. But just to be clear this is the facelift for the Citroen DS5, with a slightly cleaner front-end look while the rest of the car is unchanged. That said, it still turns heads, three years on. The update should be in Australian showrooms by the end of the year.The photos of the new Ford Focus RS hot hatch were released last month, but the vital signs and "tech specs" will finally be made available during the car's first public outing. Powered by the same 2.3-litre turbo four-cylinder engine used in the Mustang, and matched to an all-wheel-drive system, it promises to become Ford's fastest and most powerful hot hatch.The Honda Civic Type R has been in the making for almost as long as the Nissan GT-R. Here's hoping good things come to those who wait. We've seen the concept before, and we know it'll be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, but the production version of the Civic Type R finally bows at Geneva. There is just one catch: Honda says we might not see the car in Australia until 2017 because the priority is to get the Honda NSX supercar in local showrooms next year.Is your idea of sleeping under stars simply a hotel with a five-star rating? This could be the camper trailer kit for you. Jeep has created a trailer in the same shape as the tail-end of its new city-sized SUV, the Renegade. It comes with a wide screen TV and a massive sound system to annoy other campers. But fear not: it's only a motor show tease. You will not be able to buy this source of public disturbance at a Jeep dealer any time soon.

The festival, an initiative of the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Auto Club of Victoria, is set for the Melbourne Showgrounds on March 26-29.Rival event Motorworld, organised by event specialist Definitive Events, is at Sandown Raceway in November. With the luxury of time on its side, it is expected to name its first exhibitors in May.Australia hasn't had a new-car show since the final Australian International Motor Show in Sydney in 2012, which folded because of a lack of manufacturer support.The industry consensus is that only one of the two new shows can survive long-term.Mercedes-Benz spokesman Jerry Stamoulis won't be drawn on whether the brand has signed up for the November show: "At this stage we are yet to come a conclusion regarding other upcoming opportunities such as Motorworld."The festival will offer them the opportunity to connect with the Australian driving public in a new and dynamic wayThe Australian Motoring Festival release says: "It will differ from a traditional display-style motor show by providing visitors with multiple opportunities to interact with vehicles and vehicle technology through test drives and simulation."VACC executive director Geoff Gwilym says the involvement of Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota will give car enthusiasts a diverse mix of vehicles and experiences."These three global brands are among the largest in the industry across the luxury sports, prestige and everyday categories," he says."We are confident the festival will offer them the opportunity to connect with the Australian driving public in a new and dynamic way."Mercedes-Benz Australia CEO Horst von Sanden says the interactivity is part of the appeal, enabling the maker to show the latest safety technology and performance vehicles.Ferrari Experience display area will feature 30 years of Ferrari supercar historyHe tips the brand will have "a few surprise vehicles".Ferrari Australasia CEO Herbert Appleroth echoes the view. "This is a unique opportunity for lovers of cars to get close and personal with our brand and our beautiful vehicles," he says."Our Ferrari Experience display area will feature 30 years of Ferrari supercar history and a stunning showroom with the latest range of Ferrari road cars."Toyota Australia southern regional manager Stephen Slater says that enthusiasts can "look, feel and touch all the the technology in an interesting, interactive environment".Festival tickets start from $30 for adults and $20 for children, with discounts for RACV and VACC members.